MEd in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in School Counselor, Elementary, Certification
Students who select this specialty have an interest in working as elementary school, middle school, or high school counselors. The curriculum of this specialty is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training as well as the comprehensive school guidance and counseling program model, both of which emphasize the best in counseling psychology theory, research, and practice. The missions of the MU School Counseling Masters and Specialist degree programs are to prepare individuals to practice successfully as entry-level multiculturally sensitive professional school counselors in socially and economically diverse work settings.
Degree Requirements
The specific courses that meet these requirements are as follows:
| I. General Psychology Core | 9 | |
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychological Practice | ||
| Foundations of Educational and Psychological Measurement | ||
| II. Counseling Psychology Core | 21 | |
| Theories and Techniques of Counseling | ||
| Foundations of Career Psychology | ||
| Methods in Group Counseling | ||
| Counseling Methods and Practices (Secondary) | ||
| Psychological Assessment in Children and Adolescents: Behavior and Social Emotional Assessment | ||
| Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents: Behavioral Intervention (Elementary) | ||
| Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Therapies (Elementary) | ||
| III. Practicum | 12 | |
| Secondary school counseling students must complete two practicums in a secondary school setting for a total of 9 semester hours. Elementary school counseling students must complete two practicums in an elementary school setting for a total of 9 semester hours. Students wishing all level certification are required to complete an additional 3 hours of practicum in the setting in which they did not previously complete a practicum plus complete all of the other coursework in both elementary and secondary school counseling. | ||
| Counseling Psychology Practicum | ||
| IV. Specialty Requirements | 12 | |
| Parent Counseling and Consultation | ||
| Introduction to School Counseling | ||
| Program Evaluation for School Counselors | ||
| Multicultural Issues in Counseling | ||
| V. Required Teacher Education courses to fulfill the State of Missouri requirements for School Counselor candidates who are not Certified Teachers | ||
| Inquiry Into Learning I | ||
| Inquiry into Learning I - Field Experience | ||
| Teaching the Exceptional Learner | ||
| Behavioral and Classroom Management | ||
| VI. Credential Preparation | ||
| Candidates must apply for an official evaluation of their credentials in the Office of Certification, 102 Hill Hall prior to the completion of the last 15 hours of required course work. | ||
| VII. Licensure, Certification and Registry | ||
| The courses in this planner are designed to meet the requirements of the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology (42 hours), the College of Education, and the University of Missouri Graduate School. They also fulfill state certification requirements to become entry-level professional school counselors, but do not fulfill requirements for state licensure as a psychologist or counselor, for certification as a marriage and family therapist, alcoholism counselor or other specialties, or certification by the National Board of Certified Counselors. If you wish to fulfill the requirements for licensure, certification or registry, you will need to inform yourself accordingly and add to your M.Ed. degree planner the additional coursework necessary. Information about psychologist and counselor licensure, certification, and registry in Missouri is available in Room 16 Hill Hall. | ||
| VIII. Prerequisites to Master’s Programs | ||
| In order to apply for any master’s degree program in the Department of Educational, School, & Counseling Psychology, an applicant either must have completed or plan to complete 15 hours of prerequisite course work as indicated below: | ||
Statistics. A course in statistics covering descriptive statistics, correlation, t-tests and Chi-square. | ||
Psychological Theory. Two courses in psychological theory (not including the introductory course in psychology) for example: personality, social, developmental or learning. | ||
Additional Courses. Two additional courses in education, psychology and/or sociology. | ||
| If you are deficient in one or more of these areas, you may still be admitted with the provision that you make up any prerequisites during your graduate enrollment. Such make-up work will not count toward the hours required for any degree. | ||
| IV. Policy on Non-degree Graduate Students (NGS) for School Counseling | ||
| If admitted to an ESCP program, a NGS may apply up to 12 hours. The ONLY courses a NGS may take to apply to the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program are: | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Foundations of Career Psychology | ||
| Foundations of Educational and Psychological Measurement | ||
| Introduction to School Counseling | ||
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ESC_PS 7120 | 3 | ESC_PS 8040 | 3 | ESC_PS 8070 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8135 | 3 | ESC_PS 8060 | 3 | ESC_PS 8110 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8140 | 3 | ESC_PS 8165 | 3 | ESC_PS 8410 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8415 | 3 | SPC_ED 4310 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 9 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ESC_PS 8082 | 3 | ESC_PS 7130 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 8415 | 3 | ESC_PS 8165 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 8940 | 6 | ESC_PS 8145 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 9000 | 4 | ESC_PS 8940 | 6 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Total Credits: 64 | |||||
Thesis/Non-Thesis Requirements
Students will required to complete state requirements for licensure, including the Missouri State Performance Task Assessment for School counselors and the state licensure exam for school counselors.
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MEd in Educational and Counseling Psychology program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program's graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied before official admission to the University of Missouri.